WATCHDOGS yesterday warned internet giants Google they have 35 days to delete passwords and emails illegally collected by their Street View cars.

The firm could be charged with contempt of court if they do not obey the order, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Google admitted in 2010 that their Street View cars had collected information from unsecured wireless networks.

They were ordered to destroy four discs containing the data but last year admitted to “accidentally” retaining them.

Investigators re-opened a probe after reports in the US said the Street View ­software was written to capture the data and that it was available to everyone on the team.

The ICO said the breach was not strong enough for a fine but campaigners claimed Google had got off lightly.

Germany and the US fined them for the same offence.

Nick Pickles, of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “People will look at the UK’s approach and ask why Google is being allowed to escape with a slap on the wrist.

“Is our privacy somehow less worthy of protection?”

A Google spokesman said: “We never wanted this data and we didn’t look at it. We’re proceeding with plans to delete it.”

Stephen Eckersley, ICO head of enforcement, said: “The early days of Google Street View should be seen as an example of what can go wrong if technology companies fail to understand how their products are using personal information.”